The gaming industry celebrates a significant achievement as Hyung-tae Kim, CEO of the studio behind Stellar Blade, receives a prestigious award at the Korean Content Awards. His contributions to the industry have been recognized by one of the most esteemed ceremonies hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
Award-Winning Impact on Korean Gaming
Reports suggest that Kim was honored at the awards for his influential work on games like Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade. The Presidential Commendation, he stated, is a testament to the dedication of the developers and fans who have supported Shift Up. “We will continue to do our best to further promote the competitiveness of Korean games on the global stage,” Kim affirmed.
Stellar Success and Record-Breaking Sales
Launched exclusively on PlayStation 5 in April 2024, Stellar Blade made waves by selling over a million copies within two months, showcasing the potential for Korean-made triple-A console games. Earlier, Shift Up made headlines with a 435 billion won (approx. $320 million) initial public offering, setting a record since 2021’s Krafton Inc. IPO. The company celebrated a successful year by gifting its employees PlayStation 5 Pros and cash bonuses.
In June, Stellar Blade’s PC version achieved remarkable success, selling over a million copies in just three days and earning a 98% recommendation rate. This made it the “best-selling PlayStation-exclusive launch IP in history” on PC, surpassing renowned titles such as Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us in terms of peak concurrent users on Steam.
Future Endeavors and Expanding Horizons
With sales reaching 3 million copies across all platforms, the future looks bright for Stellar Blade. Fans eagerly anticipate the sequel, Stellar Blade 2, while Shift Up also focuses on the development of Project Spirits, set to be published by Level Infinite.